Simple Crispy Shrimp Tacos with Citrus Ranch Sauce

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These simple crispy shrimp tacos with citrus ranch sauce is such an easy way to get lunch or dinner on the table. It’s made with simple ingredients, and a light, healthy meal for summer. With a combo like this, it’ll be your new favorite taco recipe during the warmer months.

Seafood is what summer tastes like in my opinion. It’s so flavorful yet light and fresh at the same time. Seafood dishes prove time and time again that delicious flavors don’t just belong to the hearty, heavy soups and stews we love during the fall and winter.

These simple crispy shrimp tacos with citrus ranch sauce always makes its way into my summer meal rotation every year. They’re so fresh and easy to make. I also never spend a lot of time in the kitchen when I make these which is so important. The last thing I want to do in the middle of the summer in Texas is turn on the oven or stove more than I have to. That’s another great thing about seafood. It cooks so fast! Throw this delicious shrimp into a tortilla filled with seasonal veggies and you’ll be out of the kitchen before you know it!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Easy – The shrimp cooks so fast and the citrus ranch sauce is pretty easy to put together. The foundation of this sauce is my homemade ranch dip! Once those are made, all you have to do is add fresh veggies and lunch or dinner is served!

Seasonal – This meal is a great way to eat vegetables seasonably. Here in Texas we are lucky enough to have tomatoes, avocados, and cabbage all year round which is what I use in these tacos. Use this dish as a delicious way to throw in fresh produce that is thriving in your own backyard!

Healthy – I love that this is such a filling, healthy meal. We all think of salads as the to-go healthy meal, and they absolutely can be. But sometimes it’s nice to switch things up and get your veggies in a different way.

Tips to Make the Simple Crispy Shrimp Tacos and Citrus Ranch Sauce

• I recommend making homemade bread crumbs for this recipe. It’s so easy to do. Just cut a few slices of bread and toast them in the oven at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Then throw them into a blender after they’ve completely cooled. Boom! Bread crumbs!
• Whether you are cooking your shrimp in butter or a high quality oil, I recommend gradually adding those in if you are using frozen shrimp. The frozen water on the shrimp will drip onto the pan and the shrimp will cook in the water until it has dissolved. Slowly start to add butter or oil once the water reduces so the shrimp doesn’t stick to the pan.
• Cook at a low heat. This will allow you to work on prepping other parts of the dish without worrying about burning the shrimp.

Tools You May Need

Two large mixing bowls – One for the egg mixture and the other for the bread crumbs.

Blender – To blend up the toasted bread for homemade bread crumbs. If you are using store bought bread crumbs skip this step.

Large knife

Cutting board

Frying pan

Measuring spoons

Ingredients You’ll Need for the Crispy Shrimp Tacos

Eggs – To help the bread crumbs stick to the shrimp.

Bread crumbs – You can use homemade or store bought.

Medium sized shrimp – I use frozen for this recipe, but if you can use fresh, even better!

Corn tortillas – You can use flour as well.

Lime and Lemon

Garlic powder

Onion powder

Cayenne pepper

Dill

Salt and pepper – for the bread crumb mixture and to taste at the end.

Cabbage/Lettuce – I use cabbage in this recipe, but I’ve also used lettuce and salad blends from the store bought salad kits. Using salad kits is a great way to add more veggies and add color to the dish.

Tomatoes

Shredded carrots

Avocado

Ingredients for The Citrus Ranch Sauce

Mayo – I recommend making mayo from scratch but store bought will work if you have it.

Sour cream

Milk

Salt and pepper to taste

Garlic powder

Onion powder

Dill

Parsley

Lime and lemon juice and lime and lemon zest from a quarter of a lime and quarter of a lemon.

How to Make the Simple Crispy Shrimp Tacos with Citrus Ranch Sauce

Preheat your skillet on the stove at a low heat with butter or high quality oil. I would recommend using avocado oil, coconut oil, or olive oil.

Heat the corn tortillas in the pan on low heat. If you are using corn tortillas, this will prevent the tortilla from breaking while you eat it.

Add eggs to a mixing bowl and the bread crumbs to another mixing bowl.

Mix the salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, and dill to the bowl with bread crumbs.

Dip a few shrimp into the egg mixture and then into the bread crumb bowl. Make sure to coat them well.

Once the shrimp are coated, add them to the preheated pan and cook on low heat.

Continue to do this until all of the shrimp are coated and added to the pan.

Cook the shrimp for about 5 minutes or until the bread crumbs look crispy on the outside.

While the shrimp are cooking, chop veggies and add toppings to the tortillas and set aside.

How to Make the Citrus Ranch Sauce

Add mayo and sour cream to a mason jar.

Add in salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dill, and parsley and mix well.

Slowly add milk and stir. The amount of milk you add will depend on how thick you want the sauce to be. I added about two tablespoons of milk.

Once your sauce is your desired consistency, squeeze in a quarter lemon juice and a quarter lime juice and stir.

Next zest a quarter lime and lemon zest and mix well.

FAQs:

More Recipes To Try:

Easy Ranch Dip and Seasoning

Simple Blueberry and Feta Salad with Oven Roasted Chicken

How to Make Bone Broth From Scratch

Easy Mini Quiches with Homemade Pie Crust

If you try this recipe and like it, I would love it if you came back and gave it 5 stars! Tag me on Instagram @thejonesfamilytable.